Latvia deliberates on strengthening measures against violent incidents

In a pressing appeal, Iveta Valaine, spokesperson for the State Police, has emphasised the need for improved collaboration between police, courts, and other relevant authorities, particularly in regions with a high number of cases of violence under the influence. This call comes as an analysis of 1,630 cases from 2021 and 2022 reveals several shortcomings in the system.

The trend of such cases is on the rise, with approximately a thousand applications for protection against domestic violence made annually. Both the judiciary and the police agree with this recommendation, highlighting the importance of raising awareness among authorities and finding solutions to protect individuals.

Kristine Vanaga, Deputy President of the Zemgale District Court, echoes this sentiment, emphasising the importance of immediate and effective temporary protection. She notes that cases requested on weekends or Friday afternoons are often only considered after the weekend, which could potentially leave victims vulnerable.

The Ombudsman's Office, in its conclusion, confirms that the system for temporary protection against violence is widely used. However, some shortcomings require changes in the legislation. The Office plans to hold more discussions among professionals in the field regarding the findings of the study.

Despite years of discussions about this issue, there is still not enough cooperation between the authorities. Some of the shortcomings are related to insufficient information of the parties involved. In Latvia, specific regions with a high incidence of violence under the influence are not detailed in the provided search results, and the current status or plans for improving inter-agency cooperation in these regions is not mentioned in the sources.

The need for cooperation between courts, state, and local authorities is therefore recommended, with the aim of addressing these shortcomings and improving the system for protecting victims of domestic violence. Deputy Ombudsman Ineta Piļāne underscores the urgency of this matter, emphasising the need for effective and immediate action.